PHOENIX, May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- America West Airlines (NYSE: AWA) hit
a home run today with baseball fans around the country when it unveiled
a Boeing 757 painted in a tribute to the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball
club, which begins play in 1998.

The news was even better for 40 Arizona residents who joined
dignitaries on the inaugural flight to Denver to see a ball game at
Coors Field. The lucky fans were participants in a KTAR 620 radio
promotion.

"On behalf of the home town airline, I'm extremely proud to
dedicate this aircraft to the home town team, the Arizona
Diamondbacks," said Bill Franke, America West chairman and chief
executive officer. "This beautiful Boeing 757 aircraft will fly
the Diamondbacks banner across the skies of North America."

"The Arizona Diamondbacks family is honored that America West
Airlines would recognize the franchise in this way," said Jerry
Colangelo, Arizona Diamondbacks chairman and chief executive officer.
"We are especially pleased that this distinguishes the Diamondbacks
as the only Major League Baseball team to have an airplane customized in
our honor."

Designed by the Seattle Design Group which also designed America
West's new livery, the aircraft features a teal fuselage with red
trim. The Diamondbacks logo graces the body of the aircraft just behind
the main passenger doors. A large, white baseball with bold red and
black stitches adorns the tail.

The Diamondbacks plane is America West's sixth theme aircraft.
The airline also has a plane sporting a tribute to the Phoenix Suns as
well as aircraft honoring Arizona, Nevada and Ohio, all states that
serve as home to America West's hub cities. Another specially
painted Boeing 757 bears a child's concept of teamwork and was
designed by the daughter of an America West pilot.

The Arizona Diamondbacks aircraft will fly across the country
carrying passengers to cities from Los Angeles to New York City and
Chicago to Tampa Bay.

America West, the nation's ninth-largest carrier, serves more
than 90 destinations in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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/NOTE TO EDITORS: Digital color photographs of America West's
new Arizona Diamondbacks theme aircraft are available free of charge by
calling Wieck Photo DataBase at 214/392-0888./